Mustangs' season ends with a thud against Pirates

MODESTO - Delta College realized weeks ago that its run of six consecutive bowl appearances would come to an end with Saturday's regular-season finale at Modesto Junior College.

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By Richard T. Estrada

recordnet.com

By Richard T. Estrada

Posted Nov. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Richard T. Estrada
Posted Nov. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

MODESTO - Delta College realized weeks ago that its run of six consecutive bowl appearances would come to an end with Saturday's regular-season finale at Modesto Junior College.

The Mustangs had no idea, however, that it would end with such an emphatic crash in a game that attracts potential recruits from Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

Modesto piled up 745 yards and scored 35 second-quarter points on its way a 72-26 victory over Delta, setting school records for most yards and points produced against its rival.

While the Pirates (5-5) still have an opportunity to go bowling, the Mustangs' (2-8) season is over. Coach Gary Barlow said it's the first time since 2006, and only the third since his arrival in 2001, that Delta will miss the postseason.

"Inconsistency was an issue for us this season, and I think we saw that these last two weeks," said Barlow, whose club stunned Valley Conference contender Sierra in overtime last week. "We've got to get together with our freshmen and put things in order for this offseason."

Modesto's 35-point second quarter gave it a 48-7 halftime lead and had the Mustangs (2-8, 1-4 Valley Conference) reeling. San Joaquin County grads had a key role in handing Delta the 46-point loss.

Quarterback TeeJay Gordon (East Union) completed 22 of 25 for 311 yards and five touchdowns, and Anthony Cota (Sierra) ran for 248 yards, caught three passes for 50 yards and scored two TDs. Add four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown by tight end Jake McCreath (Ripon), and it's clear Delta was beaten by kids, who grew up playing football in its backyard.

There were dozens of players in the stands, some wearing letterman's jackets and others in shirts with their high school colors, and those are potential recruits for both schools.

While Modesto will use its victory as fodder to try and lure players from football-rich towns such as Manteca, Ripon and Escalon, Barlow tried to downplay the impact on recruiting.

"Players make decisions based on personal reasons," said Barlow, whose priorities include cultivating a quarterback now that Cody Weinzheimer has exhausted his eligibility.

Weinzheimer opened the season as the starter, after leading Delta to a bowl victory in 2012, but Barlow began rotating quarterbacks early in the season. Some moves were based on performance, others on sharing snaps. That contributed to the Mustangs' erratic performances, Weinzheimer said.

"When you're looking over shoulder, never knowing if you're going to be in for the next play, it affects the entire offense," said Weinzheimer, a Patterson High grad, who completed 16 of 31 for 219 yards Saturday. "The quarterback's got to be the leader, and there times our offense didn't know who was going to lead them. The best thing to do next year is to get behind one quarterback and keep him back there."